Franklin extends its hours for the summer

Thursday, July 4, 2013

PHILADELPHIA -- Beginning Sunday and running through Aug. 31, the Franklin Institute will extend its hours allowing visitors more time to take in star-gazing, the SPY exhibit, IMAX shows, incredible National Geographic photos and even the giant heart.

Beginning Sunday, the general museum will remain open until 7 p.m. daily. The SPY exhibit will remain open until 7 p.m. (Sunday-Wednesday) and 8:30 p.m. (Thursday-Saturday).

The featured exhibit is "SPY: The Secret World of Espionage," which runs through Oct. 6. Extremely rare and declassified treasures from the CIA, the FBI, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and the vast private collection of intelligence historian H. Keith Melton are on display this summer, giving visitors an extraordinary inside look at secret world of espionage.

Engaging spy stories and interactive components, including voice-altering technologies, laser fields and digital disguises complete the exhibit, on display in the Mandell Center.

The newest exhibit is the "50 Greatest Photographs by National Geographic" running through Oct. 11 and free with museum admission. The exhibit offers a close look at some of the magazine's legendary photographs in the brand-new photo exhibition.

From Steve McCurry's unforgettable Afghan girl to Nick Nichols' iconic image of Jane Goodall and a chimpanzee, the exhibition includes some of National Geographic's most celebrated photographs from its more-than-120-year history.

In addition to seeing the photographs as they appeared in the magazine, visitors to the exhibition will learn the real stories behind the photos and more about each of the photographers themselves.

On the second Thursday of each month (July 11, Aug. 8 and Sept. 12) from 7-10 p.m., visitors can take part in the popular sky gazing event, "Night Skies in the Observatory" hosted by Chief Astronomer Derrick Pitts.

The Joel N. Bloom Observatory remains open (weather permitting) well past sunset on the second Thursday of each month offering a variety of telescopes for viewing celestial objects in the sky.

Admission is $5; members are free.

The Tuttleman IMAX and Franklin Theater films will include summer films beginning Monday and running through Aug. 15. Check the Franklin website for specific film times.